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The Touch Test: Book Two of the Mercy Lovejoy Keeper Saga: Chronicles of the Whispering Falls Keepers: A Historical Saga of Witches, Magic, and Cats
Andover, Massachusetts, 1692.
Mercy Lovejoy has learned how quickly fear can become evidence. Now a frightened thirteen-year-old girl seems to fall rigid without warning, only to recover when her aunt Damaris touches her.
To neighbors already searching for signs of witchcraft, the pattern looks like proof.
To Mercy, it looks like a child trapped inside someone else’s story.
As Andover’s real touch-test panic draws closer, Mercy must discover why Temperance Bramwell’s frightening episodes keep pointing toward Damaris without subjecting the girl to another cruel experiment. With Josiah beside her and Rufus, Sable, and Thimble noticing what human eyes miss, Mercy follows ordinary clues through household tensions, whispered beliefs, and fear sharpened into accusation.
Someone has taught the town what to see.
Mercy intends to find out why.
But in 1692, exposing manipulation may be easier than stopping people from believing it.
The Touch Test is Book Two of the Mercy Lovejoy series, a warm historical cozy fantasy filled with mystery, quiet magic, talking cats, friendship, family, and the dangerous consequences of fear in colonial New England.
Mercy Lovejoy has learned how quickly fear can become evidence. Now a frightened thirteen-year-old girl seems to fall rigid without warning, only to recover when her aunt Damaris touches her.
To neighbors already searching for signs of witchcraft, the pattern looks like proof.
To Mercy, it looks like a child trapped inside someone else’s story.
As Andover’s real touch-test panic draws closer, Mercy must discover why Temperance Bramwell’s frightening episodes keep pointing toward Damaris without subjecting the girl to another cruel experiment. With Josiah beside her and Rufus, Sable, and Thimble noticing what human eyes miss, Mercy follows ordinary clues through household tensions, whispered beliefs, and fear sharpened into accusation.
Someone has taught the town what to see.
Mercy intends to find out why.
But in 1692, exposing manipulation may be easier than stopping people from believing it.
The Touch Test is Book Two of the Mercy Lovejoy series, a warm historical cozy fantasy filled with mystery, quiet magic, talking cats, friendship, family, and the dangerous consequences of fear in colonial New England.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 11, 2026
I love history, and I especially enjoy historical fiction that makes me want to learn more about the actual events behind the story. That's one of the things I appreciate so much about Hazel Whitmore's Keeper series.
The Touch Test takes us back to Andover in 1692, when fear and accusations of witchcraft could destroy someone's life. The story surrounding young Temperance and her aunt Damaris is fascinating, and I loved watching Mercy try to uncover the truth when so many others were willing to believe the worst.
I've really grown to love Mercy, Ruth, and especially those three wonderful cats, Rufus, Sable, and Thimble. They add so much personality to these books!
Hazel Whitmore has a wonderful way of mixing history, mystery, and just enough magic to make these stories special. I also appreciate that the historical setting isn't simply background decoration. It's an important part of the story.
This has become one of my favorite series, and The Touch Test certainly didn't disappoint. If you enjoy historical fiction with a little mystery and magic, I definitely recommend giving this series a try!
The Touch Test takes us back to Andover in 1692, when fear and accusations of witchcraft could destroy someone's life. The story surrounding young Temperance and her aunt Damaris is fascinating, and I loved watching Mercy try to uncover the truth when so many others were willing to believe the worst.
I've really grown to love Mercy, Ruth, and especially those three wonderful cats, Rufus, Sable, and Thimble. They add so much personality to these books!
Hazel Whitmore has a wonderful way of mixing history, mystery, and just enough magic to make these stories special. I also appreciate that the historical setting isn't simply background decoration. It's an important part of the story.
This has become one of my favorite series, and The Touch Test certainly didn't disappoint. If you enjoy historical fiction with a little mystery and magic, I definitely recommend giving this series a try!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review